Servant – season 1 review

How the hell did this show fly over my radar?

So I knew nothing about this show, but a reviewer that I follow made a review on it and I knew that I had to watch it. It is on “Apple TV” though so it is not surprising that I did not hear of it.

Written by Tony Basgallop and directed by M. Night Shyamalan and Daniel Sackheim, Servant tells the story of a Philadelphia couple Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) and her husband Sean (Toby Kebbell) who hire a young 18-year-old nanny to take care of their newborn baby Jericho. However, Jericho is not actually a baby, but a reborn doll who is there to help Dorothy cope with the loss of their actual baby.

Seemingly unscathed by the shocking reveal, the nanny (Nell Tiger Free) seems to play along with the charade, that is until Sean notices that there is something different with their doll. From there on starts an intense and suspenseful search for the truth that blurs the line between sanity and insanity, the natural and the supernatural, truth and lies.

It’s safe to say that this show is not something everyone will love. It is a slow burner, it leaves many questions unanswered, it focuses on the character and their development. It is a constant stream of suspense that never stops from the moment you see the doll to the very end. It is very minimalistic, almost entirely shot in their apartment, with a limited cast which was absolutely fantastic. All of the characters were great, even the supporting cast with people like Dorothy’s brother (Rupert Grint).

Now at times, it can feel a bit slow, especially at the start, but it picks up steam very, very fast. I had my eyes glued on to the screen by the end and I barely blinked. I love shows that leave you thinking, shows that keep you in the dark and constantly guessing.